Quang Nam: The first home visit on independent living for persons with disabilities in Bac Tra My

After 2 days of implementation, 30 households of persons with severe and especially severe disabilities in Tra My town, and Tra Dong, Tra Duong, Tra Son, Tra Kot, Tra Giang communes, Bac Tra My district were consulted and guided some related contents to enhance independent living skills for persons with disabilities (PWDs).

Members of the consultant team include commune-level cultural and social officials, health station staff and provincial People with Disabilities Association officials. These are members who have a close relationship with PWDs in the community and understand well the needs of PWDs.

The consultant team have assessed in detail the ability and need to live independently of PWDs, and discovered barriers affecting the ability to live independently that each person with disabilities is facing. Since then, the consultants have provided very comprehensive advice and guidance to enhance independent living skills for PWDs. The guidelines focus on a few specific issues. That is the way to renovate houses, arrange household items in order to create a convenient and safe living space for PWDs in performing daily activities; how to add supporting items and devices for PWDs to live safely, independently and limit risks (bath chair, 4-legged cane, eating and cooking utensils...). At the same time, the consultants also provide basic rehabilitation exercises at home, notes on health care issues (medication, nutritional care...) or advise on social protection policies; vocational training and employment; education…

The consultant participate in the practice of surveying and measuring the ratio of ramps for persons with disabilities in the area

All instructions and advice are made based on consideration of information about health status, personal characteristics of PWDs (education, personality, occupation...), family economic conditions and cultural context, local customs...

After being assessed and consulted, the majority of PWDs and family members acknowledged the information that the consultant team gave and said they would consider implementing it.

Through this activity, the participating officials had the opportunity to practice the knowledge acquired through training courses, practice more counseling skills as well as grasp the situation of PWD s in the locality.

The activity has received many positive feedbacks from PWDs and consultants:

Mr. N.K - Tra Son commune, Bac Tra My district shared with joy: “After returning from the training course, I have installed a new toilet, for convenience in living according to the instructions of the lecturer. Now that I have been given more specific advice on how to practice and renovate the way to the toilet, I will continue to try to apply it."

Consultant makes space size adjustment suitable for persons with disabilities to better renovate toilet

Mr. P.C.T - People's Committee of Tra Kot commune, Bac Tra My district said: “I find this activity very meaningful. With the field of policies for PWDs that I am in charge of, this is an opportunity for me to review the implementation of policies for PWDs. For example, at the time of the determination of disability, some PWDs were concluded to be persons with severe disabilities, but thanks to this home visit, I was able to discover more disabilities of some people. PWDs have become more severe, thereby guiding them through the necessary procedures to redefine the degree of disability, ensuring the rights of PWDs in accordance with state regulations.” ".

The activity was carried out within the framework of the USAID-funded project “Raising Voices, Creating Opportunities - Phase II”./.